Rep Power: 0

HI everyone....my 03 Civic EX coupe has been giving me a headache.....At the end of June, the check engine light came on.. my mechanic diagnosed it as the cat. converter not working properly. I put Cat Clean and Techron in the fuel system at different times, and the light went off. Then it came back on a few weeks later....then it went off...and then on again for about 30 miles, and off again. Now it came back on today. This is getting frustrating...and from what I've heard and been told, it's not the cat. converter that's causing the problem...but that's where my knowledge and research stops...
Anyone else have this issue???

 
Rep Power: 221

What code are you getting?

 
Rep Power: 0

Not sure what code it's specifically showing in terms of number etc...but what my mechanic said is that the emissions by the time it gets to the catalytic converter is too high and therefore the converter is failing to process the emissions. I've put Cat Clean and Techron fuel cleaner in and it seems to have helped...but it stays off for about 2-3 weeks sometimes, then comes back on and stays on for about 30 miles.... If that helps you help me I sure appreciate it...

 
Rep Power: 366

your cat is dead, bury it, there is no way to bring back the dead

 
Rep Power: 221

Need the actual codes. Get a Bluetooth scanner from amazon for $20

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok....thanks....will do..

 
Rep Power: 223

Likely P0420. And yes, cat cleaners don't work.

If you don't have to worry about emissions testing, you can find O2 sensor spacers online. Put it on the secondary sensor and the fault goes away.

 
Rep Power: 0

hey thanks! yes, I seem to recall the mechanic, whom I trust implicitly, say that it was P0420.....after coming on, it did go off, and I needed to have it smogged to register it for the next year. It passed, then it came back on. So I don't have to worry about it passing smog for another 2 years but it's annoying to see the light on. It usually only stays on for about 30 miles or less....I'll see how it reacts today. If the O2 sensor spacers turn the light off, will it sill pass smog or does this somehow impede that? I live in California, .....the cheapest catalytic converter I've found (Amazon) was about 580.00. Money ain't growin' on trees here!!

 
Rep Power: 366

when it gets bad, it will be plugged and engine will lose its a$$ and can't fart anymore and stop running. Better save for a cat sometime soon, really. Cat corpse laying in the exit pie or you

 
Rep Power: 221

If the inspector sees the o2 spacer you will fail, and potentially have fines, i don't know though. I don't live in California. Potentially you can find someone parting out a car and buy the cat used. It's a gamble but I've had success in the past.

 
Rep Power: 125

Is it California that doesn't require testing after something like 25 years?

Something like an aftermarket "high-flow" cat might be smog-eligible, but I don't live somewhere that has inspections (my car doesn't even have a primary cat lol). Another option is to use the cat cleaner or whatever it's called. Might be worth running that through for a few fuel cycles, hope the light turns off, then remove the cat, put a pipe + spacer on until you need to test again, then just switch them quickly then you're free of all that for as long as you keep the car on the road.

That whole paragraph could have been a load of BS, but I'm guesstimating off my somewhat decent memory from old threads here that it's plausible.

 
Rep Power: 0

not sure about the 25 year rule in California, however it doesn't matter, the car is a 2003 so it's only 21 going on 22 years old...but thanks

 
Rep Power: 125

I understand, but you mentioned not needing to do anything for another two years. If you can fluke the next one, then you're clear completely.

 
Rep Power: 0

ahhhh gotcha! thank you....yes, now I understand however I just don't like it when things don't work the way they're supposed to....I pride myself on really taking care of this car and don't want it to start falling apart little by little... "this doesn't work, that doesn't work, etc etc..." was hoping someone would have a similar experience and be able to say that it's not anything to worry about, that it'll correct itself...

 
Rep Power: 223

You could add a spacer to mask the CEL for now. But you'll need to have the cat replaced eventually.

If the car has the original cat, it's likely worth $100-$200 to a recycler. I sold one off an RSX for $375 a few years back.

 
Rep Power: 0

much thanks!!! I guess I'll have to replace it...found a Walker CALIFORNIA compliant @Amazon for 545.00 cheapest I've found....and trying to find a recycler who'll buy the old one... again, thanks...